John Calvin Commentary John 4:34

"Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to accomplish his work." — John 4:34 (ASV)

My food is to do the will of him who sent me. He means not only that he esteems it very highly, but that there is nothing in which he takes greater delight, or in which he is more cheerfully or more eagerly employed; as David, in order to magnify the Law of God, says not only that he values it highly, but that it is sweeter than honey (Psalms 19:10). If, therefore, we would follow Christ, it is proper not only that we devote ourselves diligently to the service of God, but that we be so cheerful in complying with its injunctions that the labor will not be at all oppressive or disagreeable.

That I may finish his work. By adding these words, Christ fully explains what that will of the Father is to which he is devoted; namely, to fulfill the commission which had been given to him. Thus, everyone ought to consider their own calling, so that they may not consider as done to God what they have rashly undertaken on their own initiative. What the office of Christ was is well known. It was to advance the kingdom of God, to restore to life lost souls, to spread the light of the Gospel, and, in short, to bring salvation to the world. The excellence of these things caused him, when fatigued and hungry, to forget food and drink. Yet we derive from this no ordinary consolation, when we learn that Christ was so earnestly concerned for the salvation of people, that it gave him the highest delight to secure it; for we cannot doubt that he is now moved by similar feelings towards us.